Between hurricane supplies, insurance, repairs and evacuation expenses, hurricane season can get expensive if you live near the coast. The good news is that there are ways to save money during hurricane season.
Save money on hurricane supplies
- Don’t wait! By making preparations early on, you can save yourself time, stress and money. As early as May or June, start keeping an eye out for sales on hurricane supplies.
- Take a tip from extreme couponers. You can find many coupons and deals on nonperishable items and other supplies on sites like The Krazy Coupon Lady , Coupons.com and Living Rich with Coupons.
- Buy in bulk. Buy large quantities of items like bottled water, batteries or nonperishable goods online or in stores like Sam’s or Costco . But before you order a 24-case of Spam, remember to stock up only on items you use any way. That way, if a storm doesn’t hit, you won’t have wasted your money.
- Take advantage of dollar stores for travel-sized evacuation items, hand sanitizers or cleaning supplies. Skip on food and batteries though, since these items are compromised on quality.
- If you plan on riding out the storm, keep your freezer and refrigerator at the coldest possible temperature and fill it with extra ice and ice packs. This will keep your food from spoiling if the power is only out for a few days.
Save money on insurance
- Again, don’t wait! If you wait until a storm has formed to buy home and car insurance, you risk not only paying more, but possibly not being able to purchase it at all. Many insurance companies will refuse hurricane and weather coverage once the threat is imminent.
- Remember that not all insurance policies are the same, so make sure your policy will cover weather damage. For car insurance, you will most likely need a comprehensive coverage. If all you have is liability insurance for your vehicle, prepare to pay out of pocket for hurricane damages to your car.
- When considering car insurance, evaluate if it’s truly worth it to pay for comprehensive coverage. If your car is older or in poor condition, you may be better off taking your chances and saving up for a new vehicle if something were to happen.
- Do not be fooled into thinking hurricane insurance for your home is enough! Hurricane insurance generally covers wind and hail damage, but not flood damage, which can be the costliest damage. If you’re in an area prone to flooding, be sure to invest in flood insurance as well as hurricane insurance.
Saving money on evacuation
- At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I will say it again: don’t wait. Plan ahead and have a destination set. Make arrangements in advance with friends or family if you can. If you don’t have someone you can stay with, make hotel reservations as soon as you decide you will be evacuating. Nearby places are likely to fill up and prices may go up.
- Keep an emergency grab and go bag with travel items and other evacuation supplies so you won’t have to spend money on these things when you’re evacuating.
- Before you leave, turn off gas, electricity and water to save money on these bills while you are gone.
Saving money on hurricane damages
- Disconnect all electronics and appliances to prevent damage caused by power surges.
- Cut down large tree branches or trees near your home that could get blown down.
- Secure all large pieces of furniture both outside and inside to reduce projectile damage.
- Use flood barriers such as sandbags to prevent flood damage. This is especially important if you do not have the insurance to cover this type of damage.
- Bring any valuables such as electronics, jewelry, family heirlooms, money and documentation with you if you plan on evacuating.
- If you plan on evacuating, take your car with you rather than flying if possible. Not only will you save money on flight expenses, but you’ll keep your car safe from storm damage as well.